Water treating apparatus



June 8, 1954 G. R. cARLssoN ETAL 2,680,714

WATER TREATIAG APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 5, 1951 GUST R. CARLSSON ha ERIC PICK IN VEN TORS.

June 8, 1954 G. R. cARLssoN Erm. 2,680,714

WATER TREATING APPARATUS Filed sept. 5, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 2 GusT R oARLssoN nd ERIC PICK l IN V EN TORS.

FIG.

June 8, 1954 Filed Sept. 5, 1951 G. R. CARLSSON ET AL WATER TREATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 GusT R. cARLssoN "ya ERIC PICK IN V EN TORS June 8, 1954 Filed Sept. 5, 1951 G.R.CARLSSON ETAL WATER TREATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 GUST R.GARLSSON f|d ERIC PICK HVVENIORS sie Patented June 8, 1954 WATER TREATING APPARATUS Gust n. carlsson, Hamont, N. J., aus Erie rick, East Rockaway, N. Y., assignors to The Permutit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 5, 1951, Serial No. 245,134

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating water or other aqueous solutions of electrolytes by ion exchange and especially suited for softening water by cation exchange.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus which is so constructed as not to require the manual actuation of valves in its operation and use and which at the same time is compact, efficient, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for controlling the various ows and effecting regeneration of the ion exchange material which mechanism is mounted as a removable unit on top of the tank containing the ion exchange material and which mechanism supports a salt chamber.

A further object is to provide for such apparatus a valve mechanism comprising diaphragm valves to control the various flows and pilot valve means to control the operation of said diaphragm valves with multiple use of the water controlled by said valve mechanism.

The manner in which the above and further objects and novel features of this invention are achieved will appear more fully from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.

In the drawings in which similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in' crosssection, along line l-i of Fig. 2 of an apparatus according to cur invention; y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with the salt chamber, trim band, and time switch removed; Y

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views in cross section along lines 3 3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 4 with a waste water ejector to dispose of the waste Water;

Fig. 6 is a view of the diaphragm of the apparacordance with our invention comprises a tank 2 having a top head 2l and a bottom head 2?... On the bottom head 2'2 and within the tank 2s is mounted a distributor 23 having a hollow rubber member 2i with a cross passage 25 therein. Into the rubber member 2d is molded a bolt 26 which, by means of a nut 2l, is fastened to the bottom head 22, thus securing the distributor 23 in place. The rubber member 24 has an external flange 28 which fits over and retains a strainer element consisting of a conically shaped perforated support 29 and a similarly shaped plastic cloth or Wire mesh 3Q. Into the rubber member 2li is tted an internal tube 3i which has its upper portion provided with an S-shaped bend as shown at 32. Near the bottom of tank '2B is provided a bushing 33 with a strainer Sli and a plug 35. The tank 2&3 contains water treating material 35 such as a cation exchange resin of the styrene-divinylbenzene type in bead form.

On the top head 2l are placed a gasket it, a spacer plate il a gasket 32, a valve body tha diaphragm it and a valve cover t5, all held in place by nuts lit on studs ci which are welded to the top head 2l.

The diaphragm ci, as shown in Fig. 6,`has holes 5U to accommodatethe studsv ci', a hole 5l which is above the upper end of tube 3l (seeFig. l), a central opening 52, an elongated opening E53, and round holes 54,55, 55, 5l, E8 ,and 5t.

The valve body 43 shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 has a flat top face 6e and-a flat bottom face t l. Holes 62 serve to accommodate the studs dl. 'Ihetop face El] has formed therein cavities or valve chambers with associated ports as follows: chamber 63 with central port 6c and peripheral port S5, chamber 65 with central port Si and peripheral port G8, chamber 69 with central port in and peripheral port ll, chamber l2 with central porti@ and peripheral port 14, chamber 'i5 with central port 'i6 and peripheral port il, and chamber le with central port i9 and peripheral ports 3c Yand 81. In the top face @i2-are, furthermore, arcuate openings 82 and 33, a stepped hole at and drilled holes 85, 8E and''l, the hole ci communicating with a milled slot 88. In the vcenter-'of the body is is a passage ii'vvitli a large thread @Ei opening into the top face E and a small thread Si opening into the bottom face Eil. The top face 5c has, furthermore, an arcuate opening 92.

In the bottom face Stof valvebod'yl 43 are cavaties le!) to HQ, inclusive. Cavity` ist communicates witha waste connection i l'!,with port 1l, and with a', port M2 leading to' passage 89. Cavity llll communicatesrwith ports 6s and lc and in ,the assembledpunit.- as shown in Fig. l,

assedic with the internal tube 3|. Cavity |02 communicates with a supply connection I I3, with ports (it, 16 and 1S, and with opening 81. Cavity |03 communicates with a service connection |4 and with ports 64 and 11. Cavity |04 communicates with port 65. Cavity |06. communicates with port 8| andv opening 85. Cavity |01 communicates with port 80 and arcuate opening 92. Cavity IBB communicates with openings 83, 84 and 85. Cavity |09 communicates with port 13. Cavity I i communicates with port 14 and opening 82.

The valve cover` 45, as shown in detail in Figs. l0, 11 and 12, has holes |20 for the studsd and a tubular extension |'2I enclosing. a chamber |122: and provided at the top with screw holes |23. The nat bottom face |24 has therein cavities or pressure chambers |25, |26, |21', |28, |29 and |35 which, in the assembled unit, face valve chambers G3, 66, 69, 12, 15 and I3, respectively. Each of the chambers |25 .to |:30has a` concentric bore |3I to |36, respectively. In the face |24 are, furthermore, cavities |40, |4|, |42, |43, IM, |45 and |46. Drilled holes |41, r|40 and |45 interconnect cavity I4|4 with chambers |28, |29 and |30,v respectively.. Hole |55 interconnects chambers |21 `and |28, and holes |5I and |52 connect cavity |431 with chambers |225 and |26, respectively.

In the face |24 are,.furthermore, holes |55 and |Bleading into a. solenoid valve chamber |51,

a hole |58 leading to a tapped connection. |55, and a. tapped central bore Hit` with lateral extension IB| communicatingwith chamber |22. A port |62 establishes. communication between cavity |42 and chamber,v |22..

On the tubular extension |2| isa flat face |53 to which, by means. of screws |54, is attached a bracket |55 carrying a conventional normally open. time switchv |65. with an operating knob |61 (see Fig'. l).

In the chamber |51 are mounted, as shown in Fig.,3,.a-. soft. rubber valve seat |69 and a solenoid valve mechanism comprising an armature ill and a. needle |1-2, both located-within a pressure tubeV |131which is placed in the Vcoil |14. An ejector inletinozzle. |115 is pressed into-thehole '81 in valve. body 43, and .anejector outlet nozzle |16 is pressed into" the. hole |55 in valve cover 45..

Into the hole.-84 in valve body 435 is` pressed an orince bushing I1.1 ,as shown in Fig. l.

As shown inFig..l,sleeves-A |10v are pressed into bores |3I( and |135: andform; bearings yfor puppets |80.A urged against diaphragm 44 by springs. ISI. Similar sleeves, poppetsandsprings are also provided inbores |32 and 136.,.but they arenot needed iii-bores |33.and |34.

Reierringgaga-in to Fig. 1, astud |84 is screwed into the threaded hole- 9|. vin valve body .43' and Vmakes av tightV seal against the spacer plate 4| by means of a washer |85 and gasket |85. A nut |81 and cup-.shaped disc |88 on; stud tt-retain, betweengaskets |89: and4 |90, a screenformedby aV triangular bronzeor stainless steel wire |9| helically wound.l vover rods I-92rand welded thereto; with slots |53l between-adjacent coils of wire I-9I.

Air extension ycord |94 `with plug |05 is held in a iitting IfQBonbracket |91; and has one wire |198vconnectedto the time switch|65, and the other wire |09. tok one. lead 252 of coil |14- Vby means of a wire nut4 20|.. The. other lead 202. of coil |1.4is connected to= thetime switch |55..

On.. the tubular extension. |2|. is. mounted, be-

tween gaskets 20.3. and-20.4, a. salt. chamber 205 by' means of screws 206 fitted into the holes |23.

The salt chamber 205 is advantageously seamless drawn of steel or other suitable metal, or molded of plastic. The open top of salt chamber 255 is closed by a removable cover 25'! which is preferably molded of soft rubber or similar material which is not only corrosion prooiE but also not apt to break when dropped*` accidentally. A trim band 208 with extruded rubber or plastic channels 209 is fitted over the salt chamber 265 and the upper portion of tank 25. The trim band 208 is fastened to bracket by means of a screw 2li), and has a cut-out portion 2|I to accommodate pipes screwed into connections EH, H3 and Two tubes2-|4 and 2 I 5, one within the other and mounted on the valve mechanism, extend upwardly through the chamber |22 and the open bottom of salt chamber 255. The tube 2|4 has a drain orifice 2|5 near its lower end; its upper end is located somewhat below the upper end of tube 2|5. Tube. 2.5 has distributing orices 2|1 near its upper end but at some distance below the top of tube 2|4. Near the lower end of tube 2|.5 it is provided with a cy-pass orifice 2|8. The upper end of tube 2 I5. is closed by a capv 2 I 5 which prevents salt or other matter from entering, but which also serves to vent the tubes 2|4 and 2|5 by permitting free entry and exit of air through a passage 220. The tube 2M. constitutes a waste tube and is screwed into the threaded hole 90 of valve body 43. The tube 2I5 constitutes a supply or head tube and is screwed into the threaded bore |50 of valve cover 45. Tube 2I4 is shown .concentric within tube 2|5 which isa convenient but 110|', IIBCESSETY arrangement.

Within the salt chamber 255 is a screen 22| which for economy of construction can be made identical to the strainer element of distributor 23, comprising a ccnically shaped perforated support 2li and a similarly shaped plastic cloth or wire mesh 32. The screen` is held in place by a ring 222 slipped over tube. 2 I5.

The tapped hole .|59 is normally closed by a plug 225 which is removed under certain conditions, to be explained later.

In use,A a supply pipe for water under pressure is screwed into connection I I3, a pipe for the disposal of waste water is screwed. into connection and a pipe leading to a point of use is screwed into connection i4. The plug |95 is inserted into a live electrical outlet. This places the apparatus in condition to operate and deliver soft water through connection. ||4.

The time switch |55 Vbeing normally open, the solenoid |14 is cle-energized which permits the armature |1| to drop so that the needle |'l2- drops into the valve seat |69. Thus. the outlet |55 for the solenoid valve is closed.

Water entering into the connection H3 flows into Ycavity |02- and. thence intorthe ejector inlet nozzle-|15.` With the solenoid valve closed as described before there is; no flow through the solenoid valve. However, water under pressure iills the milled slot 88 and, through hole5,5,. cavity |4| vand drilled holes'` |41., |148, its, and. |52, the

pressurechambers |21, |28, |29-and |30. The pressure in, these chambers forces the diaphragm against ports l0, 1.315and 19, closing them.

`Thepressure chambers` |25 and |25` communicate through drilled. holes |5| and.. |52`,cavity |43 and hole 55; with the-orifice. bushingY |1a'..,and thence through cavity. mitA and opening 83, with the inside. of. tube. 2 i 5.- which is ventedA at the. top

, through. passage 220.., Thus. there isa-tmospheric pressure in chambers |25 and |26. The diaphragm is, consequently, not pressed against ports 64 and 61 which are, therefore, opened.

Water under pressure entering through connection H3 into cavity |02 flows through port |51, valve chamber 65 and port S8, into cavity mi and thence through tube 32 to strainer 23. Being uniformly distributed by the strainer 23 the water flows upwardly through the ion exchange material 35 and enters through the slots |93, thence passing through an opening (not shown) in spacer plate 4| into the cavity .|94 from where it flows via port 65, valve chamber v53, port |54, and cavity |63 and connection Ill to the point of use.

When the capacity of the ion exchange hiaterial 36 has been exhausted the user does two things. First, lifting the cover Zll'l, he introduces an appropriate quantity of coarse granular salt into chamber 265 where it comes to rest on the screen 22|. Second, he i urns the operating knob |61, thereby winding the time switch |66 and closing it. This establishes an electrical circuit from the source through wire ISB, time switch |56, wire 252, coil |16, wires 2|!!! and mi), back to the source. The energization of the coil |1 lifts the armature |1| and with it the needle |12 into the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby opening the valve seat |69.

Water under pressure from the supply pipe l S now iioivs through cavity |62 and the ejector nozzles |15 and Sie, thence into the valve chamber |51, through valve seat |69 and holes |55, 58 and 8S into cavity |58, thence through opening 83, extension ||i| and bore |69, into the head tube 2|5.

The :dow through the ejector nozzles |15 and |15 creates a suction in the milled slot Sit which. through hole 5t, cavity |4| and drilled holes M1, |43, |49 and |53 is transmitted to chambers |21, |28, |5129 and |39. This suction pulls lthe diaphragm upward in these four chambers, overcoming the downward pressure of springs |8| acting on poppets |863 in chambers |29 and |33, and ports lil, 13, 16 and 19 are thus opened.

The opening of port 19 initiates a ilovv of water under pressure from connection ||3 through cavity |02, port 19, chamber 18, port 8| into cavity it, thence through hoies 85 and 54 into cavity M3 and thence through hole 54 and orice bushing il? in hole 3113 into cavity |58 where it mixes with and joins the stream of water flowing through the ejector nozzles |15 and |16 into the head tube M5, as described previously. The orice bushing |12' causes a build-up of pressure on its upstream side including the cavity led whence such pressure is communicated through drilled holes |5| and |52'to the pressure chambers |25 and |25, respectively. Pressure in these chambers, aided by the force of the springs |8|, pushes the diaphragm down se kthat ports ed and |51 are closed and the initially-described ow of water through the valve mechanism, the tank and again the valve mechanism to service stops.

The openingof port it causes a flow of hard water from the connection ||3 through cavity m2, port 15, chamber 15, port 11 and cavity |03 to the service connection H4. Thus, hard water is supplied to use during regeneration. This, in general, especially in household installations, is preferable to having no water available at all. However, if such flow of hard water to service during regeneration is not wanted, it can simply be prevented by plugging port 1S.

The joint streams of water coming through 'the ejector nozzles |15 and |16 and the orifice bushing |11 rise in head tube 2|5 and radial streams of water are discharged through distributing orices 2|1. The excess of water rises in tube 2|5 and overows into the open top of tube 2M whence it passes through the center passage 89 to the cavity itu and thence to waste through connection l While the flow of water into the head tube 2|5 may vary due to varying supply pressure, the discharge through distributing orices 2 l' into the salt chamber 2M remains substantially constant due to the constant head of water over orifices 2|1, such head being equal to the vertical distance between the level of the orifices 2H and the top of tube 2id. The Water discharged by orinces 2|? flows through the salt resting on strainer 22|, dissolving it, and the resultant practically concentrated brine passes downwardly into chamber |22. is in most cases it is more effective to regenerate cation exchange material with somewhat dilute rather than concentrated brine, the dilution orifice 2li? is provided to discharge a stream of water from the head tube 2lb into chamber |22. The brine is thus diluted and then iiows through the port |82, cavity M2, openings 53 and 32 into cavity Hl, thence through port 14, chamber 12, port 13, cavity |09, an opening 22E in spacer plate 4| (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l), thence through the slots |93 in a radially outward direction and passes downward through the ion exchange Inaterial Sii, regenerating it. Thence the flow continues through distributor 23, internal tube 32, cavity lili, open port 1G, chamber 69, port 1| and cavity Hill to the waste connection After al1 salt in chamber 235 has thus been dissolved the flow of fresh raw water continues along the same flow path, rinsing spent and excess brine from theion exchange material 36.

After an interval of time which has been predetermined to allow for complete regeneration and rinsing of the ion exchange material, the time switch IE6 runs down and stops with the electric circuit through coil |114 interrupted. The de-energization of the coil il drops the armature l1! and the needle |12, closing the valve seat |66. The water can no longer escape through the ejector outlet nozzle llt and the pressure of the incoming water therefore builds up in slot 8E whence it is communicated to pressure chambers |21, |28, |29 and |39. This pressure, aided by the springs |8| in chambers |29 and |39, forces the diaphragm is down against ports 10, 13, l@ and'i@ and all iiow through the valve mechanism stops temporarily. As water under pressure no longer enters cavity |1153 (port 19 being closed) the pressure in chambers |25 and |2 bleeds slowly away through holes EEE Yand |52, cavity Hit and orice bushing Ill into tube 2|5. After a few seconds the pressure in chambers |25 and |2 has thus been lowered suiiiciently for the supply pressure in ports 64 and 61 to push the diaphragm upwardly, overcoming the downward pressure of springs |8| and opening ports S and |51. This returns the apparatus to the normal service position and the initially described ow of Water through the apparatus to service is reestablished.

Immediately after the termination of the regeneration any water remaining in the salt chamber 205 is drained off slowly through dilution orifice 2|8 thence through the lower part of tube 2 5 to the drain orice 2 i 5 and from there via center passage 39, port H2 and cavity |00 to the waste connection It will be noted that the water is discharged f .ithrough connection i l l-by gravity; i Incertain --cases1the apparatus is'installediin arbasement or other location Where nodrain connection is avail- 1'able atY a level low enougl'iy softhat vthe Water could flowfth'ereiby gravityfrom connection i ".'In such cases an ejector maybe proyidedto lift the Waste Water above the vvtop of4 thesoitener. vSuch' an arrangement is diagramrnatically shown .:in'Fig. 5. An ejector 239 has an inlet nozzle 23! k'connected by an inlet tube 232 with the tapped f connection 59 (the plug A225 beingremoved for :this purpose). The ejector .has furthermore' an outlet VnozZleZfiS connectedwth an outlet tube 'or-pipe 23d which-leads to the desired'elevated j poi-nt of: disposal'for waste Water. A suction con i .fnection 235 of the ejector 22@ is-connected with avsuction pipev 'screwed into the Waste confnection I i A supply pipe 23T- and a service pipe f 2S2are screwed into connections H3 and HarespeCtiVely.

.Flow of pressure Water to the ejector 23o is automatically'controlled by the valve mechanism of" the apparatus Without need for any additional valves. During normal service the port 'i9 is closed. Consequently no pressure Water is .admitted from the valve chamber i8 through port 80 into cavity lill and thence through openings 92 and 59 tothe tapped connection E59. During 'regeneration however, when port i9 is opened, -water under pressure coming from connection H3 vfollows the just-described flow path to connection E59, thence continuing through tube 232 to ejector inlet nozzle 231. Such flow creates a suction in pipe 23S, and the discharge of the ffgejectoriSi) can then `be passed to an elevated point of disposal for Waste Water. As soon as regeneration is terminated by opening or the time switch-it flow through the ejector 239 stops instantaneously With the use of an ejector 239 the salt chamber 295 is not drained after regeneration, some Water remaining in it at all times. This invention in certain ci its vaspects is an r'improvement on the co-pending application of Eric Pick, .Serial No. '40,528 led July 24, 1948, noWPatent No. 2,596,915.

When theapparatus is :shut down in a location subjected to freezing-temperatures, as for instance in a home that is not occupied during the winter,

all' Water should be drained from it to prevent damage. This is accomplished by disconnecting .the apparatus from the supplyof Water under pressure and then removing plug 35 so .that the Water fmay drain from the tank 29, the strainer 34 preventing any escape Vor loss of .ion exchange material B.

While We have shown and described'what we considerthe preferred embodiments of our invention, modiiica'tions may be made 'withoutdepartingfromits spirit and referenceis thereforemade f to'vthe' appended claims'foradefinition of the scope 'ofrour invention.

- `What-we claimisr 1.]A vWatertreating apparatus comprising a tank for--ion exchange material and-having latop head, a --Valve rmechanism-for controllingvwow through said apparatus and having a valverbody and a Valve cover -with openings therein,-said -valVe-body beingl/attachedto said tophead, a

regenerant chamber with an opening in its botftomg said regenerant chamber Vbeing mounted on said'valve cover, passages in saidvalve bodyincluding a supply passage, a service-passage, a waste-passage 'and otherpassagea means for'con- Ynecting said `supply passage with a supply-I of Water to be treated, means for connectingsaid -servicepassage ywith afpoint ofvvuse for treated '-Water-, means for connecting said Waste passage .with a point of disposal for Waste Water, a-waste Itubemounted on said valve bodyincommunication With-said Waste passage and extending 'upwardly through -said openings in said -Valve cover and in the bottom of said regenerantchambemand a supply tube mounted on-said 'Valve y=cover and communicating with one of said other Y passages, Lsaid supply tube extending upwardly through-said opening in the bottom of said regenerant chamber.

' 2. The apparatus of claim 1, saidwas'te tube being located within said supply tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the upper end of Asaid waste tube being located below the upper end oi said supply tube.

4. In the vapparatus of claim 1, oriiice means in-said supplytube, said orioe ineens being located adjacent to the upper end of said'supply tube and below the upper end of said Waste tube.

valla the apparatus of claim 1, an oriiice in said supply tube; said orice being located near the lower end of said supplytube.

6. 1n the apparatus of Aclaim 1, an oricein said waste tubeysaid orifice Abeing located near `the lower endl of said Waste tube.

Referencesvlited in the file ofthis patent l UNITED 'STATES PATENTS 

1. A WATER TREATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A TANK FOR ION EXCHANGE MATERIAL AND HAVING A TOP HEAD, A VALVE MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING FLOW THROUGH SAID APPARATUS AND HAVING A VALVE BODY AND A VALVE COVER WITH OPENINGS THEREIN, SAID VALVE BODY BEING ATTACHED TO SAID TOP HEAD, A REGENERANT CHAMBER WITH AN OPENING IN ITS BOTTOM, SAID REGENERANT CHAMBER BEING MOUNTED ON SAID VALVE COVER, PASSAGES IN SAID VALVE BODY INCLUDING A SUPPLY PASSAGE, A SERVICE PASSAGE, A WASTE PASSAGE AND OTHER PASSAGES, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SUPPLY PASSAGE WITH A SUPPLY OF WATER TO BE TREATED, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SERVICE PASSAGE WITH A POINT OF USE FOR TREATED WATER, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID WATER, A WASTE WITH A POINT OF DISPOSAL FOR WASTE WATER, A WASTE TUBE MOUNTED ON SAID VALUE BODY IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID WASTE PASSAGE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENINGS IN SAID VALVE COVER AND IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID REGENERANT CHAM BER, AND A SUPPLY TUBE MOUNTED ON SAID VALVE COVER AND COMMUNICATING WITH ONE OF SAID OTHER PASSAGES, SAID SUPPLY TUBE EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID REGENERANT CHAMBER. 